Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Authority Florida Forever topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Monroe County Land Authority pauses Florida Forever resales after state appropriation cut; acquisitions to continue
Summary
Monroe County Land Authority officials told commissioners the state’s heavy reduction in Florida Forever funding will suspend local resale activity for FY2026, though county land purchases will continue using other recurring revenue streams.
The Monroe County Land Authority told the county board on July 15 that the state’s steep cut to the Florida Forever appropriation will suspend the Land Authority’s resale program for the coming fiscal year but will not halt local land purchases.
A county staff presenter said the Land Authority’s recurring funding comes from tourist impact tax shares and a state park surcharge; it receives no ad valorem property tax revenue. The presenter said that under the Florida Forever resale program the Land Authority had resold $8.8 million of land to the state since 2016 and typically planned to resell roughly $5 million per year. Recent notice from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, however, said the legislature had cut Florida Forever funding from more than $200 million to about $18 million for the 2025–26 appropriation year, and the Land Authority was told its resale program would be suspended for FY2026.
Land Authority staff said the resale pause reduces projected revenue for FY2026 by roughly $4.4 million, but that the authority maintained a pipeline of parcels and intended to continue acquisitions using other revenue lines. The presenter pointed to roughly $12 million set aside for land acquisition within the Florida Keys area of critical concern and about $1.7 million specifically for Key West‑area efforts in the FY2026 packet.
No formal vote was taken on acquisitions. Commissioners asked questions and staff said they would continue to seek opportunities to reengage the state resale program in FY2027 if legislative funding is restored.
